Carmencita Chapman was born an only child on October 25, 1923 in Bicol, Philippines to parents Ana Foster and Joaquin Charvet. At a young age, her parents passed away and she was raised by her aunt, Ms. Almeida.
Growing up she was a devoted Catholic and would never miss church on Sundays. She also discovered her love of playing the organ and could even play a song merely by ear.
While in the Philippines, she married her first husband, Enrique Raymundo Sr., and had three children. After the loss of her first husband in World War 2, she remarried in 1945 to Ralph Chapman Sr. with whom she had 5 children.
At the age of 53, Carmen led her family in moving from the Philippines to San Francisco, CA in 1976. She had a love for sewing and in California she went on to be the lead seamstress at Whispers of San Francisco where she made costumes and prom dresses to wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses. She took liberty in making gowns for her family members for their graduations, prom, birthdays and their cotillions. Carmen took pride in herself for being able to make such items of clothing without the need for patterns and only using a reference photo.
Making dresses for her family members was just one selfless act of her everlasting kindness. Carmen was someone you could always turn to when you felt like no one else was there. She was an amazing listener to anyone that came to her and loved to help her family in any way she could. Not only did she help emotionally, but she helped financially as she actively took in family members and supported them whether it be in the Philippines or in the states. Love, care and support was something Carmen radiated. Her smile was so contagious and her words could touch your heart in all the right ways. She was the foundation for her family, as her personality affected everyone she came in contact with. She continuously helped care for her grandkids, great grandkids and great great grandkids until the age of 95 in 2018.
While living in San Francisco, she grew a love for football, especially the city team the 49ers, and took that love with her when she moved to Las Vegas, NV in 1999 at the age of 76. Carmen loved to host gatherings and cooked numerous delicious dishes. During those gatherings, her family would play Mahjong which became one of Carmen’s favorite games.
Around 1994, Carmen’s late husband Ralph Chapman Sr. fell ill and became bedridden. Carmen became his primary caregiver during the duration of his illness until he passed in January 2000. Despite having the responsibility to care for her husband, she didn’t hesitate to offer her help to her family members in need.
Carmen passed away on December 25, 2020 in Las Vegas, NV. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Enrique Raymundo Sr., her second husband, Ralph Chapman Sr., her sons Victor Raymundo and Richard Chapman, and granddaughter, Maria Cristina Gratuito. She is survived by her daughter, Rosalinda; her sons Enrique Jr., Juancho, Ralph Jr., Raymond, and Francis followed by 17 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and 10 great great grandchildren.
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